Yet More Portraits Thread - June 2008

[Frank Petronio]

Maybe if we did these group photo threads monthly they wouldn't get so long and also they would have some indication of time so that people could search and refer back to them.

Here's the first one, meant to get Fred Picker spinning underground LOL.

[arkady n.]

http://www.nemerovsky.com/arkady/photos/4x5/2008_02_07_I_fr04.jpg

[russyoung]

Here's one of my friend David, made with natural light in my studio with a 4x5 Graflex and a Spencer Port-Land lens (as used by Uncle Ansel and carried by him until he quit going in the field). Positive criticism is most welcome.

Thanks.

Russ

[Jim Galli]

Here's one of my friend David, made with natural light in my studio with a 4x5 Graflex and a Spencer Port-Land lens (as used by Uncle Ansel and carried by him until he quit going in the field). Positive criticism is most welcome.

Thanks.

Russ
Simply perfect! Leaving on a road trip this PM with 3 petzvals but you've inspired me to include the Pinkham Synthetic.

[alanps]

Here is another - low light 1/4 sec on F8 - Polaroid 79 - Cambo 5x4 - Calumet 210mm

Sydney - Summer 2008

[Frank Petronio]

and more beach... that time of year

[Ken Lee]

I'm not sure what you mean by positive criticism, so with apologies in advance, here's a variation, just for fun. Somehow, the right shoulder being prominent (his left shoulder) makes him seem a bit distant. Not knowing the fellow, I also deepened the tones a touch, and lightened the high values in the face, to make him seem more dapper and... friendly.

[Amund BLix Aaeng]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/2576664244_76118a2446_o.jpg
Wehman, 250mm Fujinon, Tri-X, HC-110

[Dany]

http://www.temnakomora.cz/gallery/dany_20071215222717.jpg

Calumet 375/6.3 Foma 100 Am74

[stehei]

amund, dany, great stuff!!!

regards

stefan

[Joel Brown]

Here is one taken 1/2 hour after sunset. N. Lake Tahoe. Deardorff and 250 lens.

www.joelbrownphotography.com

[Frank Petronio]

more water

[Brian Bullen]

Joel, great photo of the girls. Very lovely.

Frank what can I say, you've got the magic touch!

[Pete Watkins]

Frank, the girl is fantastic...................But OMG shoot the bleedin' duck.
I wish I had your talent and vision.
Pete.

[russyoung]

Ken-

Thanx for the ideas. I agree the shoulder was a bit 'too there' but I was trying to stick with full frame. As to the facial tones, hmmmmmmmmm, gotta think on that for a while.

regards,

Russ

[Monty McCutchen]

Not sure if I have posted these of my daughter before. Both wet plate collodion. Eyeore is 10 x 12 Red Ruby Ambrotype Door shot hand colored 5 x 7 tintype. Sorry if I am being redundant in the portrait threads.

Monty

[Colin Graham]

Whoa, those are extraordinary Monty. Worth seeing many times more!

[S. Preston Jones]

Monty these are outstanding. Love the swirles in the first picture. Your daughter is a great model. What lenses did you use?

[lenser]

Monty,

That second image of the child in the car door is totally compelling.

I finally realized that it reminded me of some of the images of passed children in James Van Der Zee's "Harlem Book of the Dead". Frightening and haunting and absolutely beautiful all at once. She is a spectacular model. Congratulations!

Tim

[alanps]

Out of date Polaroid 79 - 5x4 Cambo - 210mm Calumet - F11 1/15th

[monkeymon]

This was my first ever 4x5 shot, i shot it day after i got my camera.

http://www.taidejakonsti.fi/muutos/TEMP/wilzu.jpg

And heres my first attempt to do some studio 4x5 portrait..

http://www.taidejakonsti.fi/muutos/TEMP/raisa5.jpg

[Monty McCutchen]

Thanks all!

Yes I feel fortunate to have my daughter Counti on so many levels. When she is not testing every limitation ( a very small portion of the day I might add) she gladly sits, which is to say it's usually a grand battle. I love having her in front of the camera though as I know they will only get better in my eyes the older she gets. Thanks to all of you for the kind words.

Preston,

The lens on the Eyeore shot was a Dallmeyer 3A, shot wide open. The 5 x 7 tintype (Counti and door) was one of the first shots with an 11 1/2 inch Verito shot wide open and was a bit soft for my taste, I've come to enjoy the softness that it gives stopped down one stop at 5.6 a bit more than wide open.

I've incluede a 5 x 7 tintype here of my wife Terri. It was shot a while ago No hand coloring on this one and it was shot with a 12 inch Ecktar (sp).

I love these Portrait threads as I learn so much as well as get inspired to get the cameras rolling again.

Monty

[stehei]

my first try on foma 100, 8*10, radar 300mm 4.5 wide open,
looks to my like my father got caught up in 1870!

regards

stefan

[CCHarrison]

son # 2

Dan

[Jiri Vasina]

Well, Dan, that is something. He'll surely be glad to look in his own eyes so well in a few years. Beautiful...

[xmishx]

Monty,

Absolutely beautiful. I feel so far behind the curve when I see images like this with the processes you guys take to create such imagery.

Ted

[Monty McCutchen]

Ted,

Having put your website on my favorite bar months ago and finding myself revisiting it many times I can assure you that you are NOT behind any curve!!!!.

Thank you for the kind words. Coming from you and your work as a standard it means quite a lot.

best,

Monty

[Jim Galli]

my first try on foma 100, 8*10, radar 300mm 4.5 wide open,
looks to my like my father got caught up in 1870!

regards

stefan

Superb environmental portrait. I love the selective focus used. Makes your Dad very obviously the subject. Beautiful.

[Ray Bidegain]

I have made a few new portraits this month that I would like to post here. This first one is an 8x10 platinum palladium print.

Ray Bidegain

[stehei]

Superb environmental portrait. I love the selective focus used. Makes your Dad very obviously the subject. Beautiful.

thanks jim, appreciate your kind words a lot!
4 more negs drying right now, wondering what will turn up when those are scanned,

regards

stefan

[Ray Bidegain]

Monty:

I think your portrait of Terri is very beautiful, well done.

Ray Bidegain

[Frank Petronio]

two more

[Jim Galli]

OK, I give up for this round. Can't get the software to open the image???

[xmishx]

Frank, I like everything about the 2nd image. What is that structure in the background?

Ted


two more

[Frank Petronio]

It's a windmill, a big tall one that isn't spinning. I need to go back earlier on a windy day because we lost the light in just a few minutes and there were a lot of possibilities.

These hick New York farmer windfarms are still accessible, unlike the larger windfarms like outside Palm Springs, etc.

[Dany]

http://www.temnakomora.cz/gallery/dany_20080620083425.jpg

4x5" Sironar N 300 - liquid emulsion Foma

[Greg Lockrey]

4x5" Sironar N 300 - liquid emulsion Foma

Nice one Dany... I like the look of this liquid emulsion Foma.

[Frank Petronio]

More odd portraits. The first one is my favorite.

[Mark Sawyer]

Lovely portrait, Dany. There's almost a wisp of Audrey Hepburn in those eyes...

[Jim Galli]

Lovely portrait, Dany. There's almost a wisp of Audrey Hepburn in those eyes...

aye, but my eye wishes for a bit more emulsion just at the hairline up top.

[katie cooke]

a pinhole self portrait

[Miguel Coquis]

...portrait on the road !
3x4 speed grafic
scan neg

[Brian Bullen]

R.
11x14 X-ray/ Palladium

[nelsonfotodotcom]

My Razzle arrived this morning. Picked it up at the post this evening. First shot through it a short while ago. The Fujinon lens is lovely. So was my model. Everything worked out fine.

1/30th @ f8 on Fujifilm FP-100C45

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3235/2606126436_40911a7434.jpg

[nelsonfotodotcom]

Number one is haunting. Love it. #3 is my favorite of the bunch.


More odd portraits. The first one is my favorite.

C.

[Steve Sherman]

Do babies count?

1st grandchild, 12 days old

[Donald Miller]

***

[Monty McCutchen]

I've seen this one in person! Outstanding!

Monty





Do babies count?

1st grandchild, 12 days old

[Mark Sawyer]

Classic and timeless, Steve. And gorgeously gorgeous...

[Stephanie Brim]

Debated whether to put this here or not. Decided on a go. It's horrible, but some people have seemed to like it.

http://thirtyfivemillimeter.org/temp/4x5/grandma.jpg

[stehei]

another gundlach Radar 300 4.5 shot,
the thing won't get anywhere near 'sharpness,
but the bokeh is sweet

[katie cooke]

another pinhole self portrait, though this has a little twist... about two minutes in to the exposure, I fell asleep (I don't remember counting past 100) and snoozed through the next seven or eight minutes.
4x5" on FP4+, about f256.

[Ron McElroy]

another pinhole self portrait, though this has a little twist... about two minutes in to the exposure, I fell asleep (I don't remember counting past 100) and snoozed through the next seven or eight minutes.
4x5" on FP4+, about f256.


Looks like the extra snooze time made the perfect exposure. I like your work Katie!

[nelsonfotodotcom]

Katie - you might be on to something. Photography as calming/meditative exercise. Could charge huge fees for that!

As for the image, I like it. While it might sound odd--and I swear I've no feet fetish to my knowledge--your feet in this shot seem very powerful, add some quality to the composition.

Best,
C.


another pinhole self portrait, though this has a little twist... about two minutes in to the exposure, I fell asleep (I don't remember counting past 100) and snoozed through the next seven or eight minutes.
4x5" on FP4+, about f256.

[nelsonfotodotcom]

Another test-shot from my Razzle: TXP320 rated 400, souped in Diafine. EV = 1/125 @ f8, Fujinon 150/6.3 lens. Not a serious portrait, but a portrait nonetheless. Testing the close-focus capabilities of the Razzle with the 150 on it; also curious about actual DOF fore and aft when focused on the nose at close range, hence the female in foreground.

Not as tight as I would like. I'm a head and shoulders portrait type. However, the combo is more than adequate for street/candids and other applications. It is what it is, and a lot lighter/compact than hauling a Graphic around, and the RF unit is spot on at both ends.

:)

C.

[nelsonfotodotcom]

Sie ist wie eine Blume. Lovely!


another gundlach Radar 300 4.5 shot,
the thing won't get anywhere near 'sharpness,
but the bokeh is sweet

[nelsonfotodotcom]

Splendid shot.


Do babies count?

1st grandchild, 12 days old

[Dave Aharonian]

Here's one with my newly acquired 9.5" Darlot Petzval on 5x7.

[nelsonfotodotcom]

Not crazy about the composition, but can't find argument with the model, not even with that Darlot. Beautiful, both!

[Frank Petronio]

Jessalyn drinking a Corona on the Rio Grande last Sunday.

And a backlit one that demonstrates why I curse five-bladed apertures....

[Eric James]

***

If that's Gilligan, I'd hate to see what the years on the island did for Ginger.

[xmishx]

Dave,

I love the look of this portrait. Very nice! I need to find something like this for myself and shoot lots! You've got a great combo there, model included!

Ted


Here's one with my newly acquired 9.5" Darlot Petzval on 5x7.

[Kirk Keyes]

Jessalyn drinking a Corona on the Rio Grande last Sunday.

Frank - where were you?

I was on the south bank of the Lio Grande in Nuevo Laredo on Sunday. Even got stopped by the Mexican Federales. Good thing as my Mexican brother-in-law forgot his papers at home and we remembered to head back to his home to get them. That was 125 km into the trip and 500 km from the border. (In KCMO right now.)

[Frank Petronio]

About 20 miles South of Taos ;-) more of a vacation

[Gerry]

Dany like your print, seems to have more heart than many large format portraits onsite.

www.gerryyaum.com

[Frank Petronio]

Somewhere near Pot Creek, NM

[nelsonfotodotcom]

Frank - all these are through the Linhoff, yes?

[Frank Petronio]

$500 Crown Graphic w 135/4.7 Xenar (near mint, late model, top rangefinder), I sold the Linhof this Winter (for a song) and used the money for travel and portfolios....

I don't miss Linhof's weight and find the Crown easier to handhold. I do miss the Linhof "quality" but the Crown is a very solid, robust camera for what it is. I actually think the photos are a little better with the Crown because there is less to fuss with and I don't worry about it being stolen or broken quite as much as a $3000 camera.

[tmastran]

Frank,

I've been quietly enjoying your work for sometime now. I wonder if you could tell me the procedure and equipment you use to scan these?

Thanks.

[Frank Petronio]

Thanks

http://frankpetronio.com/archive/the_cameraholic.html needs an update but might be helpful.

I use a regular Epson 4990 with the Epson software and Photoshop; I paste the 4x5 film frames on after cropping and working on the images. I tend to scan "flat" to get as much of the information as possible, then make more aggressive curve adjustments once I can make creative decisions with the high res files. I do a lot of burning and dodging using the various layered/blending mode methods described elsewhere (search). I also use the History Brush quite a bit. I scan 4x5 at 2400 ppi, I do as much (Smart Sharpening) sharpening as possible, and I also sharpen the smaller files before "saving for web" which helps them "pop."

They make nice inkjets up to 13x19 but sometimes I will go ~30x40 and at normal viewing distances I think they look fine, although a better original scan would always be better.

[Colin Graham]

Awesome work Frank- I especially like the last one.

[tmastran]

Thanks!

[George Kara]

Katie

Fantastic self portrait!!

[nelsonfotodotcom]

Fujifilm FP-100C45, Razzle Polaroid conversion, 1/30th @ f8.

Kenneth Barker, who states he is the great-great-grandson of the infamous Ma Barker, sits with his wife and daughters while waiting for the Dickson St. Bookstore to open for business.

I was driving to meet Lisa Jo Outlaw for coffee when I passed the family sitting there. That feeling washed over me, and I had to make their photograph before entering the cafe. Pulled two sheets on them, giving one to the family as a souvenir.

Craig

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/2615806979_bc995948ce.jpg

[Dany]

Dany like your print, seems to have more heart than many large format portraits onsite.

www.gerryyaum.com


Thanks :)

[domenico Foschi]

Craig, you are putting that camera to good use.

One think, I feel the urge to see the image rotated about 1-2% counter-clockwise or maybe is my screen?

[nelsonfotodotcom]

Dom, it is slightly off. I might adjust it later. Time to get busy framing my show for next week.

[katie cooke]

Thanks for the kind words. And yes, pinhole is probably the most restful form of photography yet invented...plenty of time during an exposure to pause.

[Martin Gorczakowski]

Hi there,
this seems to be my first post here. I don't do too much portrait work with my LF gear, hence it's very hard to shoot color, when you don't have your own film processor down here in Europe. Can you imagine 15$ for developing one sheet 4x5" slide film?

I am a newbie LF user. This has been shot on 4years outdated Astia, using a Fujinon 150/5.6. None the less, here it comes :)

http://digart.img.digart.pl/data/img/51/96/download/1777886.jpg

Any of your comments will be greatly appreciated

[Colin Graham]

Very nice Martin! He almost seems to be hovering due to the selective focus. Very nice effect.

[jnantz]

...

[domenico Foschi]

Hi agree with Colin.
Too many times selective focus by tilting the standards is done very gratuitously, but this is one of those times where it actually has a purpose and, ...and it looks good.

[edhaeuser]

Ok, here is my first attempt to post pictures here. The first is my son taken with a Crown Graphic, Optar 135, Arista.edu 200 (first day with large format). The second is my 84 yr old father two weeks after he started chemotherapy. Shen Hao 4 x 5, Caltar 210 S Arista.edu 100.

Ed H

[Donald Miller]

***

[Donald Miller]

+++

[Donald Miller]

%%%

[Jiri Vasina]

Hi there,
this seems to be my first post here. I don't do too much portrait work with my LF gear, hence it's very hard to shoot color, when you don't have your own film processor down here in Europe. Can you imagine 15$ for developing one sheet 4x5" slide film?

I am a newbie LF user. This has been shot on 4years outdated Astia, using a Fujinon 150/5.6. None the less, here it comes :)

Any of your comments will be greatly appreciated

Martin, it's a great portrait.

I have sent you a PM with a suggestion have to save on developing slide film in our Middle European conditions :)

Jiri

[Blueberrydesk]

Donald, fantastic shots! I love the first one, but they're all great,

[Jim Galli]

Donald, wonderful work these. Thanks.

[Donald Miller]

Thanks Paul and Jim

[Paul Fitzgerald]

If that's Gilligan, I'd hate to see what the years on the island did for Ginger.

Which one is Ginger and the other, MaryAnn?

[Eric James]

They really are beautiful portraits Donald!

[Donald Miller]

They really are beautiful portraits Donald!

Thanks Eric I am happy that you enjoyed them.

[Donald Miller]

###

[Martin Gorczakowski]

Thanks everybody for the good word. I am aware that tilting the lens is often considered a cheap effect, but I like it anyway :) Therefore, here comes another one:

http://digart.img.digart.pl/data/img/68/87/download/1774062.jpg

thanks for your comments and suggestions

[zack]

My grumpy sister.
http://zack.loseby.net/images/polaroids/3.jpg

[Blueberrydesk]

Zack, very nice!

Donald, those really are quite beautiful. How do you get that almost 'bronzed' look?

[Donald Miller]

Zack, very nice!

Donald, those really are quite beautiful. How do you get that almost 'bronzed' look?


Paul,

Thank you for your comment.

The "look" of these images comes by way of techniques that a third generation lab in Milano Italy shared with me. Part of the effect comes through the film how it is exposed and how it is developed. (Efke PL 100 in this case) Part of it comes about through the paper (Ilford) and the printing technique. The net result of these steps as they relate to film, paper and development is to hold the overall contrast while gaining better midtone separation.

The color comes from a proprietary toner that I purchase from them.

[jnantz]

beautiful portraits donald!

john

[Donald Miller]

beautiful portraits donald!

john

Thanks John

[Dirk Rösler]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3247/2623294691_71246496d6.jpg

First portrait attempts with the 8x10 and Herr Petzval.

Unfortunately the negative has a flaw, you will see it looking at the nose area: a vertical stripe. Not sure what caused it, but suspect processing. Focus is not on the eyes, but just about works. Lens to subject distance about 0.5m, made for nice bellows extension (which I forgot to compensate for)... ho hum.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/2624118142_55c7894670.jpg

I was shooting from the footbridge when this lady got curious. I let her look on the GG and eventually asked to have her picture taken. Her mother is ill and she wanted to send this to her. Print on its way (hope I can find the address again). Something that appears like fogging on the leg area...

Fujifilm Acros 8x10, Rodinal 1+25 9m drum processed, Globe portrait lens (1880s), Fuji TONE Gaslight Contact Printing Paper

[stehei]

great images with herr petzval,
have 2 (!) waiting for a shutter mount,
can't wait when I see yours

regards

stefan

[alanps]

Two from the weekend - last box of Polaroid 79 - 5x4 - out of date etc.

2 seconds at F4

[Jim Galli]

Two from the weekend - last box of Polaroid 79 - 5x4 - out of date etc.

2 seconds at F4

Wonderful framing on these. Beautifully done. What lens?

[alanps]

Wonderful framing on these. Beautifully done. What lens?


Many thanks :-)


It was a Calumet 210mm - and in fact the aperture was 5.6

[jnantz]

taken almost 6 years apart

[katie cooke]

oh, Alan, those are both lovely (and I particularly like the first. Huge, intimate warmth to it.)

[Wally]

Here's a shot of my wife, taken in the living room/temporary studio, natural light (by the big window on a very foggy day). 300mm Fuji Tessar, f/16, 1/30th sec, Provia, scanned into PS in color and transformed to grayscale.

[Wally]

Here's a polaroid - one of my last type 55.

300mm Fujinon @f16, strobe at about 250WS in a large softbox at camera left, and a reflector at camera right, about 1.25:1 ratio (lower than I'd really wanted). The surprising thing was that he stayed perfectly still!

[Donald Miller]

***

[Frank Petronio]

He loves having his picture taken ;-)

Donald, how did you approach these people? What kind of time, interaction, and exchange was involved?

[Donald Miller]

Frank, Many of these people did not speak English so we could not verbally communicate. I normally approach them and show them my camera and indicate that I would wish to photograph them. They will either agree or disagree. Most if approached in a friendly way will agree.

[Donald Miller]

***

[monkeymon]

some practise shots, my scanner (v500) doesn't scan full sized 4x5 negs... so no shoulders, just heads!. well allmost whole heads anyway.

[Donald Miller]

***

[Donald Miller]

***

[Dave Wooten]

Don

They are all great, however for some reason, I choose this one, (your post 534 portrait). IMNSHO, it is outstanding.

[Frank Petronio]

Hey it's July. Start a new thread! (I need something new to post myself)

[Donald Miller]

Thanks Dave

[Jan Pedersen]

Before this thread is coming to an end. Thanks Donald, they are all truly very special portraits.

[Donald Miller]

Thanks Jan

[Pawlowski6132]

Do babies count?

1st grandchild, 12 days old

Best picture I've ever seen. I can't stop crying.